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Producers of the film Unplanned will join IFA on Friday, March 1, 2019, to pray about the release of the upcoming film and about Christians in Hollywood. Call (712) 775-7430 or watch the webcast with this LINK.

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Pure Flix Entertainment, the family-friendly label known for distributing God’s Not Dead and a few dozen other movies aimed at Christians, will release its first R-rated film next month — and it is none too happy about having to do so.

The film, Unplanned, tells the true story of Abby Johnson, who defected from Planned Parenthood to become a pro-life activist. While the filmmakers were certain they were making a PG-13 film, the MPAA has informed them that it will, in fact, be rated R unless all scenes of abortions are removed or altered. 

The filmmakers are refusing to change anything, putting Pure Flix in the awkward position of having to open an R-rated movie on March 29. The company’s other releases, roughly two dozen movies, were all rated G, PG or PG-13.

“A 15-year old girl can get an abortion without her parent’s permission, but she can’t see this movie without adult supervision? That’s sad,” said Ken Rather, executive vp distribution for Pure Flix.

The situation prompted the filmmakers to fire off a letter of complaint to MPAA CEO Charles Rivkin.

We consider the MPAA’s current standards to be deeply flawed, insofar as they allow scenes of remarkably graphic sex, violence, degradation, murder and mayhem to have a PG-13 rating, whereas our film, highlighting the grave dangers of abortion in a straightforward manner, is considered dangerous for the American people to view,” wrote Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, the co-writers and co-directors of Unplanned.

Pure Flix says not only will it not alter the film to get a PG-13 rating, but it also won’t officially appeal the decision, as it worries it would delay its distribution efforts to have the movie’s rating up in limbo. Also, appeals are historically a long shot. In 2017, for example, the MPAA rated 563 movies — five were appealed and only one was changed, that being Clint Eastwood’s The 15:17 to Paris, which originally was an R before the appeal brought it down to PG-13. . . .

The MPAA told Pure Flix that the most problematic scene featured a doctor gazing at a computer screen that shows the image of a fetus as the abortion is completed. The doctor in the scene is real-life Dr. Anthony Levatino, who says he has performed about 1,200 abortions over the years.

“The portrayal of a live, moving fetus disappearing is very accurate,” Levatino said. “You’re watching an abortion. It’s an accurate view of what’s happening. It’s disturbing if you recognize it’s a human life.”

Added Solomon: “We have three scenes in the film which directly address abortion, and the MPAA objected to all three. They specifically made mention of objection to grainy, black-and-white sonogram images that were part of one of the scenes. It was clear that any meaningful treatment of the issue was going to be objectionable.”

“This story needs to be told and the message needed to be delivered,” said PureFlix president Michael Scott. “It is our calling as Christians to tell the story about the moral implications of abortion that the mainstream media refuses to acknowledge.” (Excerpted from The Hollywood Reporter.)

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Loret Newlin
March 4, 2019

This movie needs to be shown to Illinois voters and the Illinois Legislature NOW. An abortion bill that revokes parental knowledge and consent, allows partial birth abortion, and allows a botched abortion survivor to be killed (and much more) will be out of committee on 3/5/2019. Until then, Illinois citizens can go to ilga.gov, type in (separately) HB2495 and HB2467. Using the buttons at the top, you may (1) READ the bill. (2) Complete a WITNESS SLIP. (Fill in your information. Put “self” in three blanks: Firm/Business, Title, Persons groups firms represented in this appearance.
Position: OPPONENT Record of appearance only.

Mel Spence
March 3, 2019

Only the Holy Spirit can move upon this flim now that it has been produced and ready to be redistributed. And God will get all of the glory not man.
We all know it needs to be placed in every CHURCH in the nation, for the body of Christ to be viewed with their teens and pre-teens of this generation and culture. It all starts in middle school and right on through college. The truth will set us free JESUS said, it first has to HURT before it can set us FREE.
They are exposed to more graffic scenes than this movie “UNPLANNED” right on mainstream media, their computers and cellphones. We sat before the most graffic Christian film ever produced and viewed how JESUS CHRIST was crucified and nailed and Bleed to death on the CROSS for our sakes. Only those that won’t watch it, do not want to face the facts that it should be us. It was and horrific and terrible choice that HE made for us, but these innocent babies are not making the choice to be aborted from getting a chance for life. Face the facts this is not just a movie, it is the real thing what these abortionists are doing for a Lamborghini or money that scares the souls of the abortionist, the mother and all who are involved. HOLY SPIRIT wake-up all who are involved, right up through to the LAWMAKERS IN OUR GOVERMENT. PIERCE OUR HEARTS TO FIGHT FOR THE LIFE OF THESE PRESIOUS INNOCENT LIVES WHO CAN’T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
Thank you so much Pure Flix for exposing them.
God bless you, your in our prayers.

Laura
March 3, 2019

Yes Father. I agree with many of these prayers and than You for every Intercessor here on this page and others who may not know of IFA and are praying heartfelt prayers on this issue. Bless everyone involved with the production of this film and may it bring about the truth and the conviction to all that this is plain out and out MURDER and INFANTACIDE of the worst kind. Have mercy O Lord and bring radical changes in this land. Amen

Anne Parks
March 3, 2019

We applaud your completion of this film depicting a true story and opening the view into a Womens womb. To see what actually happens inside a Mothers body as an abortion takes place has got to impact the country. All of America’s eyes & hearts need to be opened to the reality of abortion. I pray for a shift in the minds & hearts of Mothers & Fathers considering abortion. Thank you and bless you all, for your part in this life changing moment in history.

Felicia Penner
March 2, 2019

Abortion is far more than morally wrong, each abortion murders one life and enslaves another. It is Satan’s grandest accomplishment, his two for one grab on the human race. Lord God, go before this movie, have Youth Pastors go with the teens to see it, use this rating to bring in teens that are lying about their age to view “R” rated movies. Lord let your truth and our great need to be set free of captivity come head to head, and may your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, Hallelujah. By the blood of Jesus may more be set free to love you Lord, and make you King of their lives. Amen

    Alan K. Veasey
    March 3, 2019

    Thank you Lord, that you are raising up prayer warriors to deal with the abortion and now, infanticide, holocaust. There is deliverance in no other. Seek occasion against abortionists, deploy your prayer army, and use the ensuing struggle for your purposes and glory. Only your grace and mercy can extract us from this pit that we dug. Praise you that your mercy endures forever and that you have provided salvation.

Scott Singletary
March 2, 2019

JESUS, please use the controversy for good!
Only YOU can!
Please move JESUS!
Let this movie been seen by everyone even though it is hard to see.
Its the truth!
I saw the entire movie.
We must see it because the TRUTH will set us free!

    Steven Pohorsky
    March 13, 2019

    Jesus, the most important thing in every situation is that You are Lord in it and over it. You call us to rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances. Be Lord over the R rating and work it for Your glory. May parents and children see the movie together and be united in the Holy Spirit. Grant this according to Your mercy. May it be done according to Your word, that You would use this film to TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN. We need Your help and mercy. Show us our sins, that we may repent and be forgiven.

Dianna Shipley
March 2, 2019

As an adopted child, I am eternally grateful for my biological Mother who gave me life. I’m an oncologist on fire for our Lord and Savior. As I see people struggle daily, I wonder “ did one abort/murder the one or group God had ordained to find a cure?”.He knew us before He formed us. Psalm 139 has a book written about us. May this movie allow closed eyes and hearts be open and May many lives be saved. Our God is awesome. Thank You for the courage to do this film. You will reap a harvest.
In the might name of Yeshua I pray. Amen Amen

Joan
March 1, 2019

Father forgive us for our skewed perceptions and priorities. We allow and watch gratutitous murder, sex shootings,abuse and language in movies and lament the sign of the times. And yet find our population should be protected from the truth of the ugly handling of natural consequences. May parents be bold enough to share with appropriate children one of today’s realities of sin. Forgive us Father, forgive us.

NATHANIEL STEPHENSON III
March 1, 2019

LORD JESUS I LIFET UP PRAYER HOLLYWOOD AND THE MOVIE UNPLANNED IASK TO ALLOW IT TO GET A GOOD RATING HELP EVERYONE SEE COVICT CONVERT CHANGE OUR NATION HELP ABORTION AND ALL PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLOSEDOWN ASAP PLEASE FORGIVE US LORD HELP THIS NATION GET BACK TO THE BIBLE WITH THIS I SAY IN YOUR BELOVED SON I SAY AMEN

Lidia Ochwat
March 1, 2019

I’m a retired RN who is a born-again believer. I have seen the Gosnell movie. It was graffic, unpleasant and at times beyond belief as to what went on in his clinic. Movies like that and Unplanned are presenting TRUE life facts. Therefore, the question, “How can this information be presented to the largest audience possible?”

When you read about the crucifixion of Jesus through the lens of a medical perspective, there was nothing PG-13 about it. It was beyond “X-rated” and the viewing audience was the world at large.

We need to consider how to reach the largest audience possible. I appreciate Pure Felix standards and support their role in our society. We need them. But my question remains, “How can this movie Unplanned reach the largest audience? There is a hurting world out there that needs to be exposed to truth.

    C. Berilla
    March 2, 2019

    I agree with Lidia! Many young adults of VOTING AGE wouldn’t even consider seeing a PG13 movie for fear of boredom. I truly believe that what the devil is meaning for harm here, God is using for good. The under 17 population will see it irregardless once it cycles to television viewing. This is a blessing in disguise!

      Kathy Warrington
      March 3, 2019

      Yes, I concur to the rating being a blessing in disguise.

Pauline Tracey
February 28, 2019

“O MY God, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven; help especially those who are most in need of your mercy.” It breaks my heart to think of all the innocent souls that were prevented from living among us. O my God, please forgive our brothers and sisters who support this terrible action that cause the death of our infants. Lord, forgive them for they know not what they are doing. I will pray that God will forgive all those individuals supporting this tragic decision. I will pray for those innocent little souls. I also know that they will return to God from whom they were sent.

M.R. Curlee
February 28, 2019

As a pro-life Christian, I very much appreciate the fact that this movie has been produced. However, the audience that needs to see this film typically does not subscribe to Pure Flix. It needs to be in wide release to have an impact among those who either support abortions or seek out abortions. Also, not all families allow R rated movies to be viewed by their teenage girls, etc. This sounds like a great movie, but it strikes me as perhaps being yet another project on the part of Christians in Hollywood, which essentially preaches to the choir and misses what needs to be the target audience and then is followed by statements about what God is doing in Hollywood. Things similar to this have been going on for decades (also in other areas of entertainment, sometimes in the name of Christian art (music, plays, other visual arts and so forth with “a message”) with often limited results. It’s rather formulaic by now. While I applaud such efforts, they tend not to be greatly impactful where they need to be when it comes to matters as serious as abortion and other cultural issues, since Christians tend to spend money on that kind of entertainment— not unbelievers (per flicks like God’s Not Dead). What is impactful when it comes to the issue of abortion is seeing an hour to an-hour-and -a- half long film presentation of nothing but what takes place in detail during every tyoe of abortion, narrated by a prominent physician who had performed hundreds, if not thousands of abortions throughout his illustrious career. I saw such a presentation with my family at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood a number of years ago. It was very graphic, hard to watch, sometimes gruesome and very disturbing. But it had high impact. And it wasn’t Rated R. It wasn’t rated at all. I trust that folks who follow Pure Flix truly enjoy this film and that it spurs them on to pray and act to the same extent that what I saw at FPCH had on me, which almost gave me nightmares for weeks afterwards! Unfortunately, I have talked to very few Christians who have seen anything like that, even here in California, the home of Hollywood. More than a few of my staunch Pro-Life friends, women in particular, have told me they would not watch such a presentation because it would be too disturbing to them! And perhaps not enough of what we might call a “feel good” type of story? Or at least not as shocking as what my family had viewed (and even endured in some places during the film). There was nothing pretty about it in the least; it was raw and alarming! Might I also add that many believers in California who are Democrats in this Democrat-led state seem not to make a connection between their faith, their politics and the pracrice of abortion. Some believers, includinng not a few Roman Catholics and a fine Lutheran here and there, seem to be rather blind (or indifferent) in that respect. Even among most evangelicals I associate with, abortion is not a hot button issue the way other issues like, say, immigration or their kids getting a good education are. They talk about it, oh, once or twice or maybe several times a year. Work on that disconnect while you’re at it, Christians working in Hollywood! I live in a “highly churched” town in the Central Valley of California.

    Kris Kubal
    February 28, 2019

    M.R.-thanks so much for your response. Very thoughtful. You will be glad to know that UNPLANNED will be shown in theaters nationwide, as was Gosnell, which is currently on pay per view on cable outlets as well as on video. Reaching the mass public is the aim with these two movies!

    Stephanie Reinhart
    March 1, 2019

    Here are stats from the National Abortion Federation; “Religion
    Women who obtain abortions represent every religious
    affiliation. 13% of abortion patients describe themselves as
    born-again or Evangelical Christians4
    ; while 22% of U.S.
    women are Catholic7
    , 27% of abortion patients say they are
    Catholics.”
    Christian’s being the primary audience is a good thing. If Christian’s of all denominations would stop having abortions it would remove 40% of the business/revenue of these abortion mills and many would close their doors.
    Clean up God’s house, Lord, and make us ready for the great harvest!

Jerry E Sauls
February 28, 2019

We live in a time when the minds of many have been defiled by the constant submission of their hearts and souls to Satan, making it impossible for them to make decisions that make sense to those who follow Christ. We will be in the midst of such until Christ returns and sets up His Kingdom here on earth; then Satan will be bound, cast into the bottomless pit. The Eternal State will be established and sin will be no more. God give us continued reprieve and victory over the powers of Satan until that day comes. Thank you Father for the hope that lives within our hearts. Bless and strengthen those who are on the front lines of battle in each venue in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen!

Betty B WI
February 28, 2019

Thank You Father for men and women who are willing to take a strong stand for the Truth. I pray as the other intercessors have prayed that this movie will make the truth known and the sin of abortion appalling to everyone. Take away our hearts of stone and fill us with love and compassion for the babies as well as the mothers and fathers of these children. I ask for healing for those who have had abortions and now repent with regret for their actions. Many women have suffered from guilt for years after being forced or freely making the decision to abort their baby. Let them know there is forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Amen

    Rolanda Shrader
    March 1, 2019

    AMEN!
    Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. To God be the glory.

Diane
February 28, 2019

This strategy will backfire, and God will use what they mean for evil to draw more viewers than the appropriate rating would have. God is in charge, and He always has a plan to out smart the devil and his minions~👍🏻

PENELOPE WARNER
February 28, 2019

GOD BLESS YOU ALL WHO ARE MAKING THIS FILM .ITNEEDS TO BE SEEN BY EVERY PERSON GOING THRU AN ABORTION.PRAYING FOR TOTAL AND COMPLETE SUCCESS.

Jerry Hoagland
February 28, 2019

Thank you, Mike Lindell, the My Pillow Guy, for producing this movie. Abortions should be outlawed, period – regardless of how long the mother has been pregnant. Liberals say the mother should have the right to terminate the pregnancy – what about the rights of the unborn? Life begins at conception – just as the Bible says.

Beth Bezner Moore
February 28, 2019

As always, people have a hard time with the truth, when it’s ugly. I pray that this film will bring light to the evil of abortion, and that hearts and minds will be changed. I pray that more people will embrace “life” at conception. I pray that men and women that have suffered from the choice of abortion will see that redemption is for everyone.

Alan K. Veasey
February 28, 2019

Use this film Lord, to change hearts and minds about barbaric late term abortion and outright infanticide. The knowledge and fear of you is sorely lacking in Tinseltown. Take a tithe for yourself out of the Hollywood crowd for the glory of your name(like the startling conversion of Saul of Tarsus.) Anoint the prayer meeting tomorrow to accomplish your eternal business. Praise you that these opportunities pop up even in unlikely places.

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